A COLLECTION of Harry Potter memorabilia, given by author JK Rowling to a woman whose mother gave her life so her sister could live, is valued tonight in a moving episode of Antiques Roadshow.

Also featured is a collection of film collectibles which nearly ended up in a skip but were far more valuable than its owner suspected.

The festive edition of the BBC favourite, broadcast from the set of EastEnders as part of the show's 40th anniversary celebrations, features a host of items from the world of entertainment.

Among those attending is Aimee Mead, whose story moved JK Rowling so much that the author gave her a collection of books she would "treasure for ever".

Aimee's mother Anita died of cervical cancer at the age of 33 when Aimee was only nine. Anita learned she had cancer at the same time as discovering she was 14 weeks' pregnant with Aimee's little sister Hannah. Treatment for the cancer would have required Anita to terminate her pregnancy which she was not prepared to do.

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The experience and the items themselves will be something I will treasure for ever

Aimee Mead

"Deciding to go ahead with the pregnancy, realising she was probably going to sacrifice her life, she died in 1997," said Aimee, who is now 29.

Aimee had lost her father as a child and she helped bring up Hannah, along with her stepfather David.

JK Rowling learned about Harry Potter fan Aimee's story and in the autumn of 2003 she came home from school to find a big box waiting for her.

"I just burst into tears," she said. Inside were hardback editions of the first five Harry Potter books - including one first edition, a signed photograph saying, 'To Aimee with love and admiration from JK Rowling' and a personal letter from the author.

Also in the collection are signed photographs of Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and The Goblet Of Fire film poster. Aimee tells expert Judith Miller: "Her letter said how she doesn't normally write to people.

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Aimee was given the memorabilia after Rowling heard of her tragedy

"I was then invited as a guest of hers to go to the studio where The Goblet Of Fire was being filmed and sat on Daniel Radcliffe's bed playing Playstation with him. I saw Maggie Smith having her make-up done and shook Emma Watson's hand.

"The experience and the items themselves will be something I will treasure for ever."

Giving her valuation, which viewers will discover on tonight's show, Judith said: "It's just amazing that all this came about because JK Rowling was really moved by your story."

Aimee said she had no intention of selling the items. "I have a little girl and it will be passed down to her," she said.

Tonight's edition also features a retired prop painter who worked at Elstree studios in the 1970s. His props included a Darth Vader mask from the 1977 original Star Wars film, a medallion from the "Staff of Ra" in 1981's Raiders Of The Lost Ark, and the broken axe used by Jack Nicholson in horror classic The Shining.

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The owner, giving his name only as Ron, said: "The mask came back to me to be refurbished, I put it to one side, and when the film wound up everything was being thrown in the skip, so I said I will save that.

"Same with the medallion, it came back to me after the film and they said, 'Here Ron, look after that'. Same with the axe. I saved them - it could have all gone in the skip."

Expert Jon Baddeley, who has been on Antiques Roadshow for over 20 years, said: "They are the best I have ever seen." His valuation astonished the owner and his family.

Later in the show, presenter Fiona Bruce finds herself in the Queen Vic with EastEnders actress June Brown (Dot Cotton) who says, "I love old things, including myself".

Other items on the show include a script from the first episode of Doctor Who.